Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content
Instagram Facebook Page Twitter page YouTube Page
  • Feedback

Toll Free: 1-877-482-0722

HomeTransportationTrusteesCareersStaff Login

Register for School

DCDSB Logo

Contact Us
  • Students
    • Assistive Technology
    • Athletics
    • Black Excellence, Celebration, History
    • Bullying Prevention and Intervention
    • Catholic Graduate Expectations
    • Code of Conduct
    • Continuing and Adult Education
    • Edsby
    • Equity and Inclusive Education
    • Graduation Requirements
    • International Education Program
    • LaunchPad Learning Portal Login
    • Mental Health & Well Being
    • myBlueprint
    • Safe and Accepting Schools Anonymous Reporting
    • School Year and Holiday Calendar
    • Student Achievement
    • Student Trustees and Student Council
    • Student Office 365
    • Transitions and Pathways
    Learning Management System

    Edsby

    View our Social Work Access Line page

    Social Work Access Line

  • Parents
    • Absent Student Reporting
    • Admissions Requirements
    • Assistive Technology
    • Black Excellence, Celebration, History
    • Bullying Prevention and Intervention
    • Child Care and Early Years Programs
    • Concussion Protocol
    • COVID-19 Information
    • DCDSB SafeArrival (New)
    • Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (DCPIC)
    • Edsby
    • Equity and Inclusive Education
    • Find My Local Catholic School
    • International Education Program
    • Mental Health
    • myBlueprint
    • News
    • Our Faith
    • Register My Child for School
    • Safe and Accepting Schools Program
    • School Cash Online
    • School Climate Survey
    • Student Services and Special Education
    • Student Transcript
    • Volunteer
    • Why Choose the Durham Catholic District School Board
    Learning Management System

    Edsby

  • Schools
    • Book a School Space
    • Continuing and Adult Education
    • Distribution of Public Materials to Schools
    • EcoSchools
    • Find My Local Catholic School
    • Our Faith
    • Register My Child for School
    • School Listing
    • Transportation
    • Water Sampling
    Kindergarten, French Immersion or High School

    Register for School

  • Programs
    • 21st Century Learning
    • Alternative Education
    • Arts
    • Arts & Media (Regional Program)
    • Athletics
    • Black Excellence, Celebration, History
    • Child Care and Early Years Programs
    • Continuing and Adult Education
    • Daily Physical Activity (DPA)
    • De-streaming Grade 9 Courses
    • Durham Elementary Catholic Athletics (DECA)
    • English Language Learners
    • French
    • Grade 7 to 12 Schools
    • Indigenous Education
    • Intermediate Guidance
    • International Education Program
    • Kindergarten
    • Literacy
    • Mathematics
    • Pathways to Student Success
    • Project SEARCH
    • Religion and Family Life
    • Student Services and Special Education
    • Summer School Programs
    Register for High School

    Check Us Out!

  • Our Board
    • Accessibility
    • Administration (Superintendents of Education)
    • Board and Committee Agendas and Minutes
    • Bids Opportunities
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board Policies
    • Boundary Reviews
    • Careers
    • Community Calendar
    • Contact Us
    • Departments
    • Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award
    • Durham Catholic Children's Foundation
    • Engage DCDSB
    • Freedom of Information Requests
    • Human Rights, Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination
    • Our Faith
    • Policy Input
    • Publications
    • School Year and Holiday Calendar
    • Strategic Planning
    View our Board of Trustees page

    Board of Trustees

    Ontario College of Teachers

    Ontario College of Teachers

Community Involment image

Community Involvement Hours

  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email

The Ministry of Education mandates that students must complete 40 hours of community service to receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Christian community service provides an opportunity for students to grow in their faith life and develop an understanding of our role as followers of Christ.

Completing community service hours
Students can start earning their hours from July 1 (after they finish Grade 8) until the end of Grade 12. These hours are completed outside of class instruction - during the evening, weekends or school/summer holidays. We encourage students to complete 10 hours of service per year, and to complete their hours by the spring of Grade 12.

Benefits of community service

Students benefit from completing the hours by:

  • developing moral and ethical responsibility to our community;
  • understanding and accepting social and civic responsibility;
  • accessing opportunities for intellectual development;
  • developing peer leadership and mentoring skills;
  • gaining a better understanding of multicultural and equity issues;
  • building confidence in social situations; and
  • gaining work experience and career awareness.

Types of activities acceptable for community service hours

Below are some examples of the types of activities approved for community service.

  • Provide service to seniors or others who have difficulty leaving their homes - raking, shoveling (no snow blowers), shopping;
  • Tutor younger students - read, visit the library, help with homework;
  • Volunteer at a senior's home/centre;
  • Help organize local community events - food drives/banks;
  • Take part in environmental initiatives - cleaning and recycling operations, park clean-up, planting trees and flowerbeds;
  • Become involved with charitable or church activities;
  • Assist with sports teams: community leagues, house league teams parks and recreation programs;
  • Volunteer in leadership roles with community groups-youth group, leader at church;
  • Volunteer at hospitals, libraries, social service or animal welfare agencies, religious communities/places of worship; and/or
  • Assist with literacy initiatives-at local libraries, daycare centres, community centres.

Activities considered ineligible for community involvement hours

According to the Ministry of Education, an activity is ineligible for community involvement hours if it is:

  • Required as part of a school course;
  • Taking place as part of the instructional day;
  • An activity that replaces a paid worker;
  • An activity where you would usually be paid (e.g. babysitting);
  • A duty performed in a home (e.g. daily chores) or personal recreational activities;
  • Requiring the knowledge of a provincially regulated tradesperson;
  • Playing in a sports team;
  • A Court ordered program involving a community service expectation;
  • Involving operating a vehicle, power tools or scaffolding;
  • Administering medication or handling substances as classified by the Occupational Health and Safety Act;
  • Involving banking, securities or other valuables;
  • If under 16, a logging environment;
  • If under 15, a factory environment;
  • If under 14, any workplace besides health and residential care, unless accompanied by an adult.

If you would like to volunteer in an activity, but are unsure if it corresponds with eligible activities, please speak to your school's Principal.

Resources

Check out the following resources to help you find Community Involvement opportunities.

  • Volunteer Durham website for Community Service opportunities;

Contact us

For questions regarding Community Involvement hours, visit Community Service guidelines.

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

DCDSB footer logo

Contact Durham Catholic District School Board

650 Rossland Rd. W
Oshawa, ON L1J 7C4
Phone: 905-576-6150
Toll Free: 1-877-482-0722

Quick Links and Resources

  • Students
  • Parents
  • Schools
  • Programs
  • Our Board
  • Feedback
  • Staff Login

© 2023 Durham Catholic District School Board

AccessibilityContact UsReport ItSitemapCareersFOI Request

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

×
Close Browser Alert Banner
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.